CBM Producers Ask For More Safety Oversight

Laramie, WY – Coal-bed methane producers in Gillettetold Gov. Dave Freudenthal that they need help to improve workingconditions as new employees continue moving into the Powder RiverBasin with little oil and gas experience. The governor met with members of the Powder River Basin CBMSafety Council in Gillette on Friday. Chuck Dobkins is chairman of the safety council and a seniorsafety specialist at Williams Production. He told the governor thatthere's a lack of government oversight on safety issues. Dobkins said the state OSHA agency lacks resources in bothcompliance and prevention. The state OSHA agency has six inspectorsand seven preventive consultants. Dobkins says it could use 20 to30 workers given the pace of energy development. Freudenthal says he agrees that more needs to be done, but saysthe energy industry would need to support any expansion of OSHAbecause of stiff opposition from the Legislature.